Outdoor convertible garment
A convertible garment for outdoor usage is disclosed. The garment basically comprises a quilted jacket-like upper member having a hood and a quilted zip-off skirt member. The skirt member is releasably secured to the jacket member by a zipper and when secured to the jacket upper member allows the wearer to remain warm by keeping his/her legs therein. The jacket member includes at least one air vent, as does the skirt member. The skirt member is arranged to be disconnected from the jacket member and opened and flattened to form a blanket.
This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/834,996, filed on Jun. 14, 2013, entitled Outdoor Convertible Garment whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT“Not Applicable”
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK“Not Applicable”
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to outdoor wearing apparel and more particularly to wearing apparel that can be readily converted for multi-purpose outdoor use, such as viewing sporting events in cold or inclement weather conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONJackets and other garments for keeping a user warm or otherwise protected from the environment are well known in the prior art. Such jackets come in many different designs, depending on their use or preference of the wearer. Sleeping bags are well known for keeping a user warm or otherwise protected from the environment. Such sleeping bags come in many different designs, depending on their use or preference of the wearer. Jackets and sleeping bags serve important, but different roles. Their use typically is limited to serving the purpose for which they were specifically designed.
While attempts have been made in the prior art to combine the functions of a jacket and a sleeping bag, such attempts have resulted in a compromise garment that does not fully meet the requirements of each role. Thus, there presently exists a need for garments that can be worn outdoors, such as by spectators to sporting events and other outdoor activities, that provides the wearer with the ability to customize the garment to the particular weather situation. The subject invention addresses that need by providing such a garment
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA convertible outer garment is provided. The garment basically comprises a jacket member and a skirt member. The jacket member has a pair of arm sections and a torso section. The skirt member is releasably securable to the torso section of the jacket member and is arranged to be configured into a hollow body to enable the wearer of the garment to put his/her legs and feet therein. The skirt member is also arranged to be opened and flattened when disconnected from the jacket portion to form a blanket.
In accordance with one exemplary aspect of this invention the skirt member is arranged to be releasably secured to said jacket member by a zipper, e.g., the skirt member comprises a top edge portion along which portion of a zipper extends and wherein the torso section of the jacket member comprises a mating portion of that zipper extending along a bottom portion of the jacket member. The portions of the zipper are arranged to be connected together to releasably secure the skirt member to the jacket member.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect of this invention the skirt member additionally comprises a pair of side edges, one of which has one portion of another zipper extending therealong. The other of those side edges has another portion of the other zipper extending therealong. The portions of the other zipper are arranged to be secured together to configure the skirt member into a hollow body for receipt of the legs of the wearer.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect of this invention the skirt member additionally comprises a bottom edge and an associated drawstring. The drawstring is arranged to open and close an opening in the bottom of the skirt member when the skirt member is configured into the hollow body.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect of this invention the jacket member includes at least one air vent and the skirt member includes at least one air vent.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect of this invention the convertible garment includes a hood.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention the jacket member, the skirt member and the hood are each quilted and formed of a fabric shell having an fabric layer and an inner fabric layer, with an insulation material sandwiched therebetween.
Referring now to the various figures of the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts there is shown in
Owing to its construction the garment 20 can be used as a traditional jacket. Moreover, it can be converted for use by releasably securing the skirt member to the jacket member to form a cocoon like enclosure for the wearer's entire body. Thus, with the skirt member in place the wearer can remain warm by keeping his/her legs together thereby keeping body heat inside the garment. Moreover, the skirt member is constructed so that when it is secured to the jacket portion, the skirt portion can be unzipped to open it to enable the wearer to release or free his/her legs to him/her to freely walk about. Then when desired, e.g., after the person is seated or reclining, the skirt portion can zipped to close it around his/her legs and feet.
The entire garment is preferably quilted, i.e., includes a fabric shell 28 having an inner layer and an outer layer, each formed of any suitable material (a few examples of which will be described later), between which an insulating filler material is disposed. The filler material comprises any suitable thermally insulating material (a few examples of which will be described later). The quilting can take any form in any desired pattern. In the exemplary embodiment shown the quilting pattern is formed by plural parallel horizontally oriented stitch lines 30. Those stitch lines are merely exemplary of a myriad of patterns the quilting can take, e.g., a diamond pattern, etc.
The jacket portion 22 comprises a torso section 32 from which a pair of arm sections 34 extends. Each arm section terminates in an enclosed hand section 36. Each hand section includes a cuff with a hidden opening (not shown) to enable the wearer to extend his/her hands out of the opening and hence out of the garment 20. An internal Lycra pouch (not shown) is provided within the cuff of each hand section to provide additional warmth to the wearer. Thus, in particularly inclement weather the wearer can retain his/her body heat by keeping his/her hands within the Lycra pouch. Access to the torso section is provided via a zip-up front closure 38. The closure is in the form of a zipper 40 and associated hook and loop welt closures 42 to seal the welt and to better insulate the zipper 40 from the cold.
The fabric of the shell 28 making up the torso section 32 and each of the arm sections 34 is preferably 400 denier nylon, which has been given a water-resistant coating, but may be any other suitable material. The fabric of the shell making up the hand sections 36 is preferably poly taffeta, but may be any other suitable material. The filling of the torso section of jacket member is preferably 220G down-like polyester. The arm sections 34 are filled with 100G basic polyester. The arm cuffs are filled with 80G basic polyester. In the interest of comfort each of the arm sections 34 includes 2″ darts 44 (
As best seen in
The hood 26 is preferably a quilted member constructed like that of the torso section, with the shell preferably formed of pad dye taffeta and filled with 80G basic polyester. The hood 26 is secured (e.g., preferably fixedly secured, such as by being sewn) to the upper portion of the torso section. The hood 26 is also preferably in the form of a drop hood having a visor extending above a face opening 48. The face opening can be adjusted in size by means of adjustable toggles 50 to accommodate various size and shaped faces. The hood also includes a 6″ zipper guard 52 to protect the wearers face from the zipper 42, and a hidden metal snap 54.
The jacket portion includes three externally accessible pockets, namely, a 6.5″ double welt zipper breast pocket 56 and two 7″ welt side pockets 58 located in the exterior shell. The interior or lining of each of the pockets is formed by any suitable fabric, e.g., poly taffeta. The welt 60 making up each of the exterior pockets 56 and 58 is best seen in
The exterior pockets 56 and 58 may be used to carry and/or store small items or as a place for the user to keep his/her hands warm and/or dry. The interior of the torso section includes another welted breast pocket 64, whose lining is also poly taffeta.
As best seen in
When separated from the jacket member 22 and laid flat the skirt member 24 is of generally square or rectangular shape, such as shown in
As mentioned above and best seen in
As best seen in
As should be appreciated from the foregoing this convertible garment of this invention provides the wearer with a warmer, more comfortable way of being outdoors and enhancing one's outdoor experience while watching sporting events and other cold weather activities. The garment basically comprises a ski jacket-like upper member having a zip-off skirt member. The skirt member when coupled to the jacket-like upper member allows the wearer to remain warm by keeping his/her legs together and thereby keeping body heat inside the garment. One can choose to walk around in the upper garment and then zip the lower portion when seated or can place the entire garment on while seated on lying down. Moreover, the skirt member, when disconnected from the jacket member can be readily formed into a blanket. Thus, the garment of this invention offers the user various ways to configure it for various outdoor applications. Moreover, while the garment has been described by means of one exemplary embodiment, it should be clear that various changes can be made to the garment, such as use of different materials for the shell and filling. Moreover, the garment can be made in different shapes and sizes. Further still, different types of releasably securable fasteners can be used in lieu of or in addition to the disclosed zippers for securing the various components of the garment together. Further still, while it is preferred that the garment include air vents in the jacket member and vents in the skirt member, the number, placement and arrangement of such vents can be tailored to the particular application. In fact, if desired, the garment may be devoid of vents. Moreover, while a hood is also preferred to be included in the garment, it can be omitted if desired.
Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.
Claims
1. An outer garment configured to be worn by a person outdoors, said garment comprising:
- a jacket member having a pair of arm sections and a torso section, said torso section having a first side and a second side, a first one of said pair of arm sections being located at said first side and fixedly secured to said first side and a second one of said pair of arms sections being located at said second side and fixedly secured to said second side, each of said arm sections being an elongated hollow member terminating in an enclosed hand section, each of said hand sections including a cuff to enable the wearer to extend his/her hands out of the hand section, said jacket member including a first openable and closable air vent and a second openable and closable air vent, said first air vent comprising an elongated slit located in at least one of said first arm section and said first side of said torso section immediately below said first arm section, said second air vent comprising an elongated slit located in at least one of said second arm section and said second side of said torso section immediately below said second arm section; and
- a skirt member releasably securable to said torso section of said jacket member, said skirt member comprising an abrasion resistant, non-slip, waterproof material making up a bottom area of said outer garment for engagement with the ground, said skirt member being configurable into a closed state wherein said skirt member is in the form of a bag having a single hollow enclosed body to enable the wearer of the garment to put both legs and feet of said wearer in said single hollow enclosed body, said skirt member also being configurable into an open state when said skirt member is disconnected from said jacket portion, whereupon said hollow enclosed body of said skirt member is opened and flattened to form a blanket.
2. The outer garment of claim 1 wherein said jacket member and said skirt member are formed of a quilted material.
3. The outer garment of claim 1 wherein said skirt member is arranged to be releasably secured to said jacket member by a zipper.
4. The outer garment of claim 1 wherein said first air vent is L-shaped and includes a portion located in said first arm section and a portion located in said first side of said torso section and wherein said second air vent is L-shaped and includes a portion located in said second arm section and a portion located in said second side of said torso section.
5. The outer garment of claim 3 wherein said skirt member comprises a top edge portion along which portion of said zipper extends and wherein said torso section of said jacket member comprises a mating portion of said zipper extending along a bottom portion of said jacket member, said portions of said zipper being connectable whereupon said portions of said zipper can be connected together to releasably secure said skirt member to said jacket member.
6. The outer garment of claim 5 wherein said skirt member additionally comprises a pair of side edges, one of said side edges having one portion of another zipper extending therealong, the other of said side edges having another portion of said other zipper extending therealong, said portions of said other zipper being arranged to be connected together to configure said skirt member into said hollow enclosed body for receipt of the legs of the wearer.
7. The outer garment of claim 6 wherein said skirt member additionally comprises a bottom edge and an associated drawstring, said drawstring arranged to open and close an opening in the bottom of said skirt member when said skirt member is configured into said hollow body.
8. The outer garment of claim 4 wherein said first air vent includes a zipper and wherein said second air vent includes a zipper.
9. The outer garment of claim 1 wherein said skirt member comprises at least one openable and closable air vent.
10. The outer garment of claim 8 wherein said skirt member comprises at least one openable and closable air vent.
11. The outer garment of claim 9 wherein said at least one vent includes a zipper.
12. The outer garment of claim 1 additionally comprising a hood portion secured to said jacket member.
13. The outer garment of claim 12 wherein said hood portion includes a face opening.
14. The outer garment of claim 13 wherein the size of the face opening is adjustable.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 4, 2014
Date of Patent: Apr 11, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20140366239
Inventor: Hope Biller (Los Angeles, CA)
Primary Examiner: Khaled Annis
Application Number: 14/295,572
International Classification: A41D 3/00 (20060101); A41D 15/04 (20060101); A41D 15/00 (20060101); A41D 27/28 (20060101);